Saturday, August 28, 2010

Bad Sun, No Biscuit


The last time I got blood drawn & analyzed, the doc informed me that I have a Vitamin D deficiency and need to take supplements. I was surprised at this news because I am a sun worshipper (as much as a person can be in the Pacific Northwest anyway) who gets tanned every summer after getting a badass sunburn on the first nice day. It never ever fails, I've been sunburned at least once every year for almost my entire life. Yes I am an idiot.

I've even been known to use tanning beds. Shut up, it helps my acne and gets me through February.

So now...now I've got an appointment with a specialist to have a spot of Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from my chest.

It's not really a big deal. Basal cell is superficial, doesn't metastasize, and grows really really slowly. They'll freeze it off (or something like that) and I'll be self-conscious about the mark for awhile, and then all will be right with the world. There will be lots of follow-up appointments with a dermatologist to make sure I don't have any other little nasties cropping up and I have to switch to Vitamin D supplements instead of frying myself to a crisp every time the sun makes an appearance.

Put sunscreen on your kids.

Put sunscreen on yourself.

See a doctor if you have any weird spots that won't go away.

Flip the sun off whenever you think of it.

2 comments:

Jason, as himself said...

I think if I lived up there I would be the same way. Or worse. When I lived in the frozen mountains of northern Utah, I would go to the tanning beds in the morning before school started. Because it just felt so darn good when it was 40 below outside!

Scary stuff. I'm glad this particular kind of skin cancer isn't a big deal.

My FIL has two types of bad skin cancer and we're still unsure of what is going to happen.

MOM #1 said...

You know I have a "canned" speech about tanning beds, but I'll spare you. I'm glad you didn't get the BAD kind of spot and now you'll be behaving more appropriately.

Keep us posted. Are you taking those Vitamin D/Calcium combo supplements? You might as well get the best of everything while you're pill popping.